WorldWide Drilling Resource

Horizontal Directional Drilling on the Beach Information Provided by Clear Solutions In 2016, the TRG / L&R Joint Venture began a large-scale horizontal directional drilling (HDD) project to install a brine outfall pipeline for a desalination plant, which is under construction in an area known for its natural beauty within an ecological protection zone on the east coast of South Africa. Phase one of the project involved positioning the drill rig on the beach and drilling a horizontal borehole more than 1000 feet out to sea where a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe was inserted, by pushing the pipe with a specially designed and constructed pushing head. They encountered unconsolidated beach sand, shattered rock, boulders, shales, and sand- stones, which finished in a reef formation out at sea. A range of complex directional, operational, and logistics factors meant the initial directional drilling under the sea took a total of 18 days. The borehole was then left open for an additional 24 days, with drill pipe, bit, and bottom hole assembly left within the hole, until inspections were complete. When the specially modified and fabricated push ring was delivered to the site, the drill bit was easily tripped out of the borehole. The product pipe installation encountered a range of highly challenging geological formations, but proceeded smoothly and easily. The drilling fluid used for the project was Ultrabore ® . This bentonite fluid is specially developed by Clear Solutions to gen- erate exceptional hole cleaning and borehole stability in challenging formations, while also being resistant to common drilling fluid contaminants. From the start of the borehole to final pipe installation, a total of 47 days were taken, demonstrating the fluid’s ability to provide long-term borehole stability. In the second phase, the drill rig was rotated 180º, and a 1000-foot bore- hole was drilled, which connected to a previously built chamber. The drilling started at just over 10 feet above sea level, and went uphill to a height of over 130 feet above sea level. Drilling this uphill borehole to the desalination plant presented a variety of challenging geo- logical conditions, including unconsoli- dated sand dunes, and took 18 days, minus a 17-day delay waiting on special replacement parts for the surface plant. Despite the delay and challenges, drilling progressed without any hole problems, and the HDPE product pipe was installed easily. 36 APRIL 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Open the Doorway to a l l the Ev ent Photos dur i ng MWWA 2 0 1 8 . To see all the photos from this event, go to www.worldwidedrillingresource.com or click here. Feel free to download at will and print the photo(s) of your choice. Compliments of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Photos are copyrighted and released for personal use only - no commercial use permitted. Protecting Yourself in Permit-Required Spaces Adapted from a Press Release by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Permits are required for confined spaces in work environments because such spaces have limited openings for entry or exit, and they aren’t designed for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces include underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, underground utility vaults, and pipelines. The confined spaces defined as permit-required may contain a hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphere. There could be walls which converge inward or floors which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant. It is possible the spaces could contain other serious physical hazards such as unguarded machines or exposed wires. The spaces must be identified by the employer who is charged with informing exposed employees of the existence and location of such spaces and their hazards. Workers should not enter permit-required spaces without having a permit to enter and first being trained. The employer ’s procedures, including how and when to exit, should be reviewed and understood prior to anyone entering a confined space, which requires a permit. Before entering the space, all physical hazards should be identified. Both prior and during entry, a test should be done to monitor for oxygen content, flammability, toxicity, or explosive hazards as necessary. Equipment should be in place for fall protection, rescue, air monitoring, ventilation, lighting, and communication. There should be constant contact with a trained attendant either visually, via phone, or radio. This monitoring system enables the attendant and entry supervisors to order workers when to evacuate and to help alert trained per- sonnel to rescue entrants when needed. Together, these practices help maintain a safe working environment for all involved.